Overview

• San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department classifies the case as a suspicious disappearance and believes 74-year-old Naiping Hou may have been abducted.
• Unknown individuals used Hou’s cellphone to send robotic texts and mislead family members for weeks before his disappearance was reported.
• Investigators uncovered more than $1 million in unauthorized transactions from Hou’s accounts that were used to purchase gold bars online.
• Hou’s son has offered a $250,000 reward and launched a dedicated website to collect tips tied to the family’s cryptocurrency ties.
• Authorities are asking the public to report sightings of a silver Toyota Yaris and provide any information that could lead to Hou’s safe return.